Dolores White

Composer, Performer

"You have to have encouragement. You can't have constantly a stream of disappointments, or discouragement... It's hard. You really do need this nourishment to succeed in life. You have to many times search it out. "

WHO

Dolores White was born in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Howard University for two years and transferred to Oberlin College Conservatory of Music where she received the Bachelor degree in piano performance. She completed her M.M. in piano performance and composition at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and was assistant professor of music at Cuyahoga Community College, Metro Campus, for much of her career. Centered in American and European classical elements, she fashions music that reaches into the rich resources of American traditions while also drawing on ethnic and international materials. Willis Music Company, Boston Music Company, Cuyahoga Community College Press, Southern Illinois University Press have published works of Dolores White and she is included in several of Helen Walker-Hill's books and publications on African American women. She is a member of ASCAP and has received many ASCAP awards. Also, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, American Music Center, OMTA, The International Alliance of Women in Music, Cleveland Oberlin Alumni Club, Center for Black Research, Chicago Music Association and NANM (National Association of Negro Musicians).

Give Birth to the Dream begins playing at 17:40 and plays again at the end of the episode, beginning at 27:33. It was a commission from the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra and was performed in 2004. Narrated by George Forbes, Cleveland City Council President. Conducted by John McLaughlin Williams. Text used is the poem On The Pulse Of Morning by Maya Angelou.